Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland

The Unitarian Universalist Church of Rutland is affiliated with the Unitarian Universalist Association of North America and is an ethical and liberal religious community dedicated to promoting the ongoing search for truth and to affirming the inherent worth of the individual.

We welcome all who find our emphasis on personal religious integrity and commitment meaningful.

We are located in downtown Rutland at 117 West Street.

Sunday Services

February 7th, " The True Wisdom of the Groundhog": Becky Eno. Come and celebrate Imbolc -- or Candlemas -- or Groundhog Day -- marking the midpoint between the Winter Solstice and the Spring Equinox. As the daylight grows noticeably longer, pay attention to the stirrings of new life, even as they lie hidden under the frozen earth. Together, we'll begin to sweep away the lingering darkness and prepare for the renewal of Spring in this powerful time of dreams, creativity, healing, and hope. Bring seeds (both literal and figurative) to be blessed.

February 14th, "Renunciation as a Spiritual Practice": Rev. Erica Baron. Many devout religious people in various traditions find renunciation of certain things to be a valuable spiritual practice. Does renunciation have a place in Unitarian Universalist spiritual life? I will tell you some of my story of times when I've had different answers to this question.

February 21st, "Gardening in February -- An Allegorical Examination of Seed Catalogs": Nancy Weis. We get the catalogs early - some even before Christmas, and we pore over them for a while, then order seeds. But what do they MEAN?

February 28th, " Idolatries of the Mind and Spirit": Rev. Erica Baron. Our fifth Source as Unitarian Universalists is "humanist teachings which counsel us to heed the guidance of reason and the results of science, and which warn us against idolatries of the mind and spirit." I've long been fascinated with the phrase idolatries of the mind and spirit," and in this service I will share my musings on what idolatry might look like in a pluralistic movement.

March 7th, " I Brought My spirit to the Sea: Stories of Transformation from Ferry Beach": Craig Lentz. Whenever people gather at Ferry Beach UU Camp and Conference Center,a miraculous community is created and recreated that has the power to change lives. The intentional act of retreating, of leaving your day to day world to be with others in a sacred place where real transformations happen, where community is built with like-minded folks from around New England, and where UU values are practiced, can nourish your spirit like nothing else can. The Executive Director of Ferry Beach will share several stories of transformation.

Witness the Cost of War

The number of deaths caused by war and occupation of Iraq continues to grow daily. Please join us on the second Sunday of each month, during coffee hour, for a ceremony commemorating the Americans and Iraqis killed by this war and occupation.